The lawns are brown. The cicadas are buzzing. Fall ball is still
a month away.

That can mean only one thing: it's time for the Midsummer
Night's Power Rankings.

With the burnout from the past season sufficiently salved, this
is my time to dip my toe back into the game by assessing which
teams have the look of a contender this coming spring based on
various metrics, including last year's finish, starters and points
returning, along with other scales.

Admittedly, trying to nail down the candidates for a tournament
and/or poll position nine months in the future based on current
facts and numbers is somewhat of a fool's errand. With that said,
last year's MNPR featured Mercyhurst
and Le Moyne in the top two spots. So there's that.

Just so there is no confusion, this is not Lacrosse
Magazine's preseason poll. That will come out in December.
This is just my first glimpse at what might be in the cards as we
enjoy the last few weeks of sanity.

To the Midsummer Night's Power Rankings..

12. Tampa (11-6)

Starters returning: 8 | Points returning: 233 of 280
(83.2%)

Why they could be higher: After just two seasons of
existence, Tampa has managed to establish itself as a mid-level
program. With another solid recruiting class and a competitive
schedule, the Spartans have the opportunity to morph into a
consistent Top 12 team in 2014. They'll have to get out from
underneath the ECAC and Limestone in the South region to make the
tournament, but a couple of key wins could move UT up the
charts.

Why they could be lower: For all of promise that the
Spartans hold, they really haven't beaten anyone since they came
online. In fact, they have some dubious losses. Tampa will get
tested in the early season once again and will get chance to prove
its worth. But if the Spartans stumble, they'll have an uphill
climb getting back on the pollster's radar.

The Man: Joey McMahan. McMahan led the team in assists
(13) and finished third in points (32) in his rookie campaign,
highlighted by a four-goal, three-assist performance in the season
opener against Florida Southern. With a year under his belt and a
better feel for the college game, he could emerge as one of the
better playmakers in the South.

The Word: Normally I don't like to qualify my picks,
but I'll admit it this time: putting Tampa in this spot is a leap
of faith. Had there not been a rash of coaching changes –
coaching continuity is one of my metrics – at several
traditionally solid programs, UT probably wouldn't be here. And if
one wanted to argue that Dominican (Calif.), Colorado Mesa,
Chestnut Hill or St. Michael's should be in this spot, I wouldn't
put up too much of a fight. Tampa's goalie numbers (five netminders
combined for a 48.6 save percentage in '14) are troubling, but the
Spartans should be able to bump those up and lean on a balanced
offense, led by McMahan and Kyle Hemrick (28g, 7a), to stay in the
mix.

11. Molloy (10-4)

Starters returning: 8 | Points returning: 250 of 323
(77.4%)

Why they could be higher: After three consecutive
losing seasons, the Lions earned a taste of what it's like to win.
More importantly, they didn't just do it with the cyclical
maturation of a large senior class. Only four players graduate off
last year's 10-4 squad, so most of the key cogs will understand
what it takes to deliver day in and day out in the ECC, especially
on the defensive end. Scoring goals should also not be a
problem.

Why they could be lower: Having a bunch of returning
players does not ensure improvement in the ECC – just ask
Chestnut Hill. As pretty as the record was last year, Molloy went
3-4 in the ECAC, and didn't threaten LIU Post or NYIT at the end of
the campaign. To be a player on the national scene, an ECC program
can't take much more than one conference loss. Is Molloy ready to
pull off that feat?

The Man: Joe Leonard. After transferring in from St.
John's, Leonard had a monster sophomore year, scoring 32 goals and
dishing out 44 dimes. Helped by the presence of classmate Tom
Engelhardt (30g, 32a), Leonard could flirt with a 100-point season
in '14.

The Word: There's a lot to like about this Molloy team,
and most of the Lions issues last spring are correctable. For a
borderline top-tier squad, they took way too many penalties (over
eight a game) and they were a sub-.500 faceoff team (finishing at
48.7%). If Molloy tightens up both of those aspects, they are two
wins better than last year at minimum. The Lions had just four
attackmen listed on their roster last year, but EMO savant Sal
Geneva could be a candidate to fill the void left by deadly
finisher Kenny Lutz. Molloy should be able to handle much of their
non-conference slate like last year, so we won't get a good feel
for this team until late March when the conference season kicks
off.

10. Merrimack (11-3)

Starters returning: 5 | Points returning: 135 of 286
(47.2%)

Why they could be higher: The roster has taken a hit,
but junior Jamie Shand (22g, 25a) returns to his playmaking role on
attack while senior Paul Jones and junior Kyle Guilbert could have
breakout seasons on the frontline. In addition, Morgan Green is an
experienced goalie who could make the transition from Connor Reagan
seamless. The Warriors could also prosper in the underdog role.

Why they could be lower: The potential for serious
growing pains with the departure of Corey Lunney (45g, 14a), Greg
Melaugh (40g, 10a) and Mike Perdie (11g, 13a) is very real. It
could conceivably take the Warriors a half a season to figure out
everyone's role, and by that time it might be too late.

The Man: Brandon Waiter. Just a junior, Waiter has been
a rock for Merrimack at long pole since he arrived on campus, and
he should be in contention for defensive player of the year honors
when the '14 campaign wraps up.

The Word: Rebuilding year. Transition year. Bridge
year. Whatever you want to call it, the '14 season has the
potential to be a trying one for Mike Morgan's troops. The 10-man
senior class that just graduated is one of the best in program
history and, while there are certainly some talented kids returning
who have been waiting their turn, it'll be the lack of experience
in big-game situations that will probably hurt the most. The
Warriors have enough program momentum to handle the obstacles
– they've gone through it in the past – but both the
Northeast-10 and North region will once again be an unforgiving
landscape. While the internal goals will once again be high, the
reality is next spring may be a springboard for a promising 2015
campaign.

9. Lake Erie (12-5) | Quarterfinalist

Starters returning: 7 | Points returning: 203 of 375
(54.1%)

Why they could be higher: The Storm had four freshmen
– including goalie Tom Lipomi (51.9 sv%, 7.96 GAA) – a
sophomore and a junior playing important minutes on defense last
year and still managed to hold opponents under eight goals per game
as a team. The numbers were admittedly skewed slightly by some of
the bantamweights on the schedule, but this unit is only going to
get better in '14. Just looking at the two Seton Hill contests
– a 16-8 loss on March 30; a 12-10 win on May 3 – we
can see how they improved last spring.

Why they could be lower: Lake Erie has plenty of guys
who can put the ball in the net, but graduation losses –
specifically Keegan Bal (team-high 36 assists) – has left the
Storm with just one player with double-digit helpers. That could be
problematic with Lake Erie's style of play, especially against some
of the premium defenses the Storm will see.

The Man: Trevor Tarte. Tarte led the country in goals
last spring with 63 and did it efficiently (48.1 shooting
percentage). His quick hands in the middle should produce another
cache of markers in '14 and keep opposing defenses honest.

The Word: The Storm put themselves on the map last
spring, but now they are a known entity and will be targets for
every team on the schedule. Greg Stocks and his players should be
extremely proud of what they accomplished in such a short span of
time (Lake Erie is just entering its fifth year of existence in
'14), but this is when things get really hard. The Storm has long
since stopped sneaking up on anyone in the ECAC, and other teams
– even ones that aren't in the postseason hunt – would
love to make their spring by taking a chunk out of an NCAA
qualifier. That'll be the biggest challenge for Lake Erie. It still
has the talent to play with anyone, but it'll have to alter its
collective mindset to that of the hunted.

8. Dowling (7-6)

Starters returning: 7 | Points returning: 161 of 227
(70.9%)

Why they could be higher: I know you know, but just
remember this is a team just a year removed from a national
championship. There are plenty of guys who saw the field in Foxboro
in '12 or were waiting in the wings to get their chance. Last
year's dropoff was predictable, but with one notable exception (see
below), this spring's team has a similar look to the magical run of
two years ago. A favorable schedule could be a huge boon, as
well.

Why they could be lower: We can have the debate, but I
would argue that Dowling does not win the national championship in
'12 and has losing record last year without Louis Riley. Now that
the grizzled FOGO has graduated, taking his 65.8 winning percentage
from last spring with him, the Lions return just 21 faceoff
attempts (out of 297) from last year. If Michael Fitzpatrick isn't
ready to carry the load or they don't get someone in to get Dowling
to at least 50 percent, it could be trouble.

The Man: Matt Crough. Crough stepped in and embraced
the top gun role with the Lions, leading the team in goals (34) and
finishing fourth in assists (13). The Peterborough, Ontario native
was predictably deadly inside (43.6 shooting percentage) and on the
man-up (8g), and with a more experienced team around him those
numbers should improve.

The Word: Myles Harvey (57.5 sv%, 8.85 GAA) gives the
Lions an experienced netminder and he'll have veteran long poles
Brian Michalec, Derek Muzio, Sheldon Burns and Frank Iaconetti in
front of him. Defense should not be an issue. Crough and Michael
Brennan (15g, 19a) are a capable attacking duo while Tom Cleary
(25g) is a big threat out of the midfield. The Lions have never
been a run-and-gun outfit, but there are enough weapons to allow
them to effectively play their style. Not to belabor the point, but
all of the tools are in place for Dowling with the exception of the
faceoff unit. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.

7. Seton Hill (12-4) | Quarterfinalist

Starters returning: 5 | Points returning: 262 of 396
(66.2%)

Why they could be higher: The Griffins are once again
going to have no trouble stinging the net after averaging 15.6
goals per outing last spring. They lost James Delaney out of the
midfield, but Matt Delmonico (43g, 29a) and Dylan Lefebvre (40g,
17a) anchor an attack unit that will be one of the best in the
country. If they can find a capable guy to fill out the frontline
– Dylan Gelven (17g, 9a) would be a prime candidate –
they'll be a dangerous team in the postseason.

Why they could be lower: While scoring goals shouldn't
be a problem, keeping the ball out of the net will be the
challenge. The graduation of Chris Ilse, who was superb in net
(60.8 sv%, 7.96 GAA) last spring, and pole Anthony Rusch leaves big
shoes to fill. Nick Elliot and Josh Albo return to provide a
presence at close defense, but there are questions marks.

The Man: Delmonico. Limestone couldn't find an answer
for Delmonico in the quarterfinals, as he struck for three goals
and five assists, and that could very well be a harbinger of what
we'll see in '14. He'll get more attention now that Delaney isn't
drawing slides out of the midfield, but his assist numbers could
double if his teammates can finish.

The Word: Although there are some candidates who will
be pushing for recognition, the ECAC appears, at this point, to be
in decent shape to be once again a three-bid league to the NCAA
tournament. This includes Seton Hill, but the Griffins' ceiling
will be

determined by their faceoff unit. With a powerful offense and an
untested defense, proficiency at the X – especially early in
the season – will go a long way in shaping the season. The
Griffins were competent last year, winning 53 percent as a team,
but in the final three losses of the season against tournament
qualifiers, Seton Hill ran at 39 percent. That won't cut it this
spring.

6. Limestone (16-2) | Semifinalist

Starters returning: 5 | Points returning: 157 of 424
(37.0%)

Why they could be higher: The close defense had to be
completely reconstructed last year, and with a freshman (Jake
Wojtowicz), a sophomore (Zach Missel), and a junior (Glenn
Trovato), the Saints still got within an overtime goal of returning
to the national championship game. While they'll have to break in a
new goalie, that entire unit, along with LSM Mike Ponzio, returns
in '14.

Why they could be lower: There's no getting around what
faceoff-man Jake Ternosky provided the Saints. He consistently
(65.7 FO%) set the table for the high-powered Limestone attack. His
graduation, along with other departures, means that exactly one
faceoff attempt (out of 462) returns next spring. Without a sturdy
replacement, this could be an Achille's heel.

The Man: Todd Nakasuji. He's been waiting in the wings
for a couple of years now, but he has still quietly produced (31g,
17a last year). The Hill Academy product will be the tip of the
Saints' offensive spear in '14 and could be a 50-assist guy if
sophomores Vinny Ricci and Reid Reinholdt live up to billing.

The Word: Limestone has lost productive classes in the
past, but rarely with the amount of aggregate points that this last
bunch provided. There were only a couple of alpha male attackmen in
the division that neared Riley Loewen's production (54g, 36a) and
the departure of Corey Rich (36g, 24a), Zach Cummings (33g, 10a)
and Tor Reinholdt (22g, 29a) leaves a gaping wound on the offensive
end. Losing an experienced netminder like Christian Dzwilewski
doesn't help the cause. If they can find a capable replacement in
net, the Saints might lean on their defense, as odd as that may
sound. There will be growing pains next spring, but there's
certainly enough to think they'll once again be amongst the top
four in the South.

5. NYIT (12-3) | Quarterfinalist

Starters returning: 7 | Points returning: 221 of 284
(77.8%)

Why they could be higher: The Bears have premium
players at every level of the field – Luke Miller on attack,
Ryan Brunet in the midfield and Danny McDermott at the back –
so if Bill Dunn can get in a decent complementary
recruiting/transfer class to sign on for next spring, Tech could
easily win the ECC.

Why they could be lower: With the graduation of Joe
Fallon and the transfer of Patrick Fleming, the Bears not only
don't have a frontrunner for goalie, they have no netminders,
period. Obviously, they'll have a couple of stoppers on the roll
when fall ball starts, but this is a huge question mark for a team
that has had the luxury of Billy McGee and Fallon tending cage over
the past two seasons.

The Man: McDermott. Luke Miller could be in this spot
as well, but heading into his senior season, McDermott will be the
key ingredient in the Bears making it back to the Promised Land.
Protecting a new goalie will be priority number one, but McDermott
can do it all.

The Word: It's easy to jump on NYIT about its lack of
roster size. It certainly is startling that the Bears only have 17
players returning off last year's roster (for comparison, Tampa has
42 players returning off their '13 roll), but Tech was three goals
away from a trip to the semifinals. This is a testament to the
conditioning and coaching. What really held NYIT back last year was
the faceoff unit, which essentially ran at 50 percent
(183-for-367). If they were a proficient outfit at the dot, it's a
good bet they would have flipped both losses against Adelphi. In
the quarters, Tech won less than a third of the draws and still
only lost by three goals to the Panthers. NYIT can survive with a
short bench, but faceoffs will eventually catch up with them until
they rectify that area.

4. Adelphi (14-3) | Semifinalist

Starters returning: 6 | Points returning: 267 of 323
(82.7%)

Why they could be higher: Adelphi is still the premier
name in Division II lacrosse. Despite the Panthers' 12-year hiatus
from a national championship, the six they do have is still tops in
the history of the second tier. Gordon Purdie has done a nice job
harnessing that reputation, bringing in quality rookie classes
along with contributing transfers. You can bet that he'll have
several difference-makers – guys like Sal Tuttle and Rashad
Cureton this past year – ready to enhance the Adelphi
name.

Why they could be lower: Eric Janssen and Aidan
Bennardo split time in goal for much of the season, likely costing
one of them All-Americans honors, but it did payoff with the top
seed in the North and a trip to the semifinals. Both are gone,
leaving the Panthers with a pair of goalies that saw less than a
game's worth of action combined. The position could control the arc
of the '14 season. [UPDATE: Bennardo has one year of
eligibility left as well as Nick Watson, per AU coach Gordon
Purdie]

The Man: Ikerson Hopper. At a lanky 6-foot-7, Hopper is
a nightmare matchup out of the midfield, and he lit up many of the
top teams in the country, including a five-goal, one-assist
performance against NYIT early in the season. He started to get
more attention late in the year, but if he can work on his assist
game (he finished with only six dimes for the season), he could be
the most dynamic middie in the country.

The Word: The loss of key guys like LSM Kevin Kennedy
and Janssen will have to be accounted for, but there is plenty left
in the cupboard to help the Panthers get back to the tournament,
and possibly again as the North's top seed. Hopper and Tuttle,
along with senior defenders Vincent Alestra and Wayne Marx, give
Adelphi a great start. Throw in Greg Puskuldjian, the best
returning FOGO in the country, and there is a lot to be optimistic
about in Garden City. Still, all eyes will be on who emerges as the
Adelphi goalie during fall ball because that player could very well
determine whether No. 8 in is in the works.

3. Mercyhurst (18-1) | Runner-up

Starters returning: 6 | Points returning: 239 of 406
(58.9%)

Why they could be higher: The Lakers have lost four
games in the last three years and have made two appearances in the
national championship game. This is a program with momentum that,
with a 17-man senior class returning in 2014, has enough talent to
not only once again be the top team in the ECAC and the South
region, but also in the country. With Michael Grace returning
between the pipes, it's easy to envision 'Hurst playing on Memorial
Day weekend once again.

Why they could be lower: It's a trap that a lot of
powerhouse programs fall into, but with as much success as the
Lakers have had over the past three seasons, a sense of entitlement
can sometimes manifest in the players. LIU Post head coach John Jez
admitted as much after the Pioneers had their dominant three-year
run from 2009-11, which resulted in a 6-6 campaign in '12. Chris
Ryan has been around the block, so he'll surely have ways to combat
this potential malaise, but human nature is a funny thing.

The Man: Brady Heseltine. After a junior season that
saw him lead the Lakers in goals (42) with a spectacular shooting
percentage (42%), Heseltine returns for what could be a monstrous
senior spring. Even if the quick-stick Canadian specialist receives
more attention this year (as he should), he'll be opening doors for
guys like Jake McAndrew (40g, 9a) and Deven Alves (13g, 16a).

The Word: Who is going to be the next Brian Scheetz?
The Lakers lose over half of their assists, most of them produced
by Scheetz (46), which is an important factor considering the style
of offense Mercyhurst employs. If they can find a competent
quarterback – Alves might be a candidate – the train
should keep on running. If it takes a little while to figure things
out it won't be the end of the world, but a stagnant offense early
could make life harder seed-wise when the postseason begins.

2. Le Moyne (18-2) | National Champion

Starters returning: 5 | Points returning: 260 of 415
(62.7%)

Why they could be higher: Well, short answer, the
Dolphins are the defending champs and reached the pinnacle via the
underdog route last spring. They'll be underdogs again in '13
considering Le Moyne's graduation losses, but we're talking about a
program that is the face of D-II right now. Doubt it at your own
peril.

Why they could be lower: The top two scorers, the top
two close defenders and a game-changing goalie are gone. There's no
massaging those facts. Yes, Le Moyne is a program that has shown a
remarkable resiliency over the years in replacing high-end talent,
but is the team that deep?

The Man: Andrew Chadderdon. Jeff White was named the
Most Outstanding Player for Le Moyne in the championship game, and
he was certainly a compelling character in the Dolphins' run to the
title, but Chadderdon was my pick. He scored the game-winning goal
in all three postseason contests – including a clutch
overtime strike against LIU Post – and finished the tourney
with eight goals and a dime (he had 31 goals and 18 assists for the
season). There aren't too many midfielders returning in '13 with
Chadderdon's cred.

The Word: I'll be honest: it's awkward not having Le
Moyne at the top of the heap. Even though there are some key pieces
missing from last year's team (White, Alex Cameron-Carter to name
two), Dan Sheehan has this program streamlined like no other. The
fact that the Dolphins were able to capture the national
championship with Kam Bumpus, one of the premier faceoff middies in
the country and Le Moyne's eighth-leading scorer, on the sidelines
speaks to a depth of talent amassed in Syracuse. I hate to lean on
the term "system" when writing about the Dolphins because it is
somewhat insulting to the kind of talent on the squad, but you
always know what you're going to get with Le Moyne and it seems
like they are always playing for all the marbles (seven times in
the last 10 years). That's tough to bet against.

1. LIU Post (11-3) | Quarterfinalist

Starters returning: 7 | Points returning: 192 of 255
(75.3%)

Why they could be lower: Simply put, the ECC. While the
conference has shed some quality programs (Mercyhurst, Lake Erie)
in recent years, it's still a cutthroat league that punishes teams
that don't show up on a consistent basis. That will be Post's
challenge.

The Man: Matty Beccaris. In his inaugural campaign,
Beccaris led the team in both goals (35) and assists (15) on his
way to a 50-point season – an impressive feat for a rookie in
the ECC. Beccaris was not just a gunner, though. He finished third
on the team in ground balls, helping the Pioneers with their
devastating ride that held opponents to just a 69 percent clearing
average, while also pacing Post in EMO markers. Even a marginal
improvement this spring will keep him in the Player of the Year
discussion.

The Word: John Jez's squad was extremely young last
spring and had it been the Pioneers that struck in overtime in the
quarterfinals instead of Le Moyne, we might be talking about the
prospects of a repeat championship in this space. The loss of
unheralded LSM T.J. McAndrew and starting netminder Tim Bradley are
spots that must be addressed, as well improved play at the dot, but
Post appears loaded at every other level of the field. [UPDATE:
McAndrew will be returning in '14 after a medical redshirt waiver
from '12, according to head coach John Jez]. If they can find
a dangerous running mate for Beccaris and Ryan Slane on attack,
that unit could be devastating. The Pioneers are just three years
removed from their back-to-back titles, and everything is pointing
toward LIU Post starting another run.